The Philadelphia 76ers wrapped up the preseason Friday, and not a moment too soon. In a matchup against the Orlando Magic, the Sixers rolled out their entire roster, save for the injured Paul George and Jared McCain, as well as Joel Embiid, who had already been announced to miss the preseason.
For the second straight game, the Sixers started Tyrese Maxey, Eric Gordon, Kelly Oubre, KJ Martin, and Andre Drummond. Head coach Nick Nurse previously announced that he was using the preseason to tinker with the starting lineup, and it appears he’s found a version that he likes, at least in games that both Embiid and George miss.
Unfortunately for Philadelphia, it didn’t take long into Friday’s game for another injury to be announced as Tyrese Maxey injured his right thumb early in the first quarter. Maxey would linger in the game in pain for a few more minutes before subbing out. It was then announced that he would miss the remainder of the game with a right thumb contusion.
Maxey’s absence appears to be a precaution, but it’s unnerving nonetheless and was entirely preventable. The past is the past however, and the Sixers can now only hope that he is healthy for Wednesday’s season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks.
There was still a game to be played however, and play the Sixers certainly did against a Magic star that matched Philadelphia’s energy in terms of playing key players.
Kelly Oubre
Kelly Oubre led the Sixers in points with 17, continuing to showcase a level of hustle and engagement that exceeds his previous season with Philadelphia, which was a career-best in terms of being locked in. Oubre continues to play with a chip on his shoulder after another offseason that, while better from a financial standpoint, was still far from ideal in Oubre’s mind. While some feel Oubre will play a key role in a deadline deal, he very well could be the most important player on the Sixers’ roster after the Big Three.
Andre Drummond
Another day, another impressive game by Andre Drummond. Impressing throughout the preseason, Drummond outdid himself with a signature 20-rebound performance on Friday. The Sixers will be forced to lean heavily on Drummond throughout the season as Joel Embiid is expected to miss no less than 15 games.
Drummond, to this day, considers himself a starter in this league. Performances like this show that he’s not just confident in his abilities but also that he may very well be right.
Ricky Council IV
It was a rough night for Ricky Council IV from the field. The second-year wing shot an uninspiring 1-7 from the field, but that’s not where his night ended. Council was consistently physical throughout the evening, drawing contact seemingly at will for a grand total of 12 shots from the free-throw line.
It’s not just about making it to the charity stripe, though; Council was also able to knock down a large majority of his opportunities, hitting 11 of 12 free throws attempted.
Orlando is one of the toughest teams in the league, defensively speaking. That was evident looking across the Sixers’ team as nearly every player struggled from the floor. While the team, as a whole, will need to perform better despite difficult matchups, it would also be ideal for players to take a page out of Council’s book and force their way to the charity stripe with consistency.
Up next for the Sixers
The Sixers will make a quick pitstop in Delaware on Sunday for their annual Blue x White scrimmage. There is no word yet on the availability of Embiid, George, Maxey, or McCain, though an announcement is expected shortly before the event begins at noon.
After that, the Sixers will be set for the official start of the season on Wednesday, Oct. 23, with a 7:30 p.m. tipoff against the Milwaukee Bucks.
